Adrian Peterson's Son Dies After Alleged Assault by Another Man

The two-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson passed away on Friday due to injuries he suffered from an alleged assault.

UPDATE: Monday, Oct. 21, at 9:10 a.m. ET

TMZ's Staff reports the man that allegedly killed Adrian Peterson's son has been charged with murder:

The man who allegedly beat Adrian Peterson's 2-year-old son to death was just charged with second degree murder ... TMZ has learned.

Joseph Patterson was charged with second degree murder and 2 counts of first degree manslaughter, as well as aggravated battery of an infant. He was also charged with felony child abuse.

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Second degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in South Dakota.

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UPDATE: Sunday, Oct. 13, at 11:35 a.m. ET

Adrian Peterson said he will play Sunday in Week 6, according to AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell of MPR News. "I'll be ready to roll, focused," Peterson said. "I will be playing Sunday, without a doubt."

Police in Sioux Falls, S.D., via NFL's Around the League Twitter feed, validated the news:

Soon after that confirmation, Peterson, who met with the media hours before the boy passed away, released a statement on Twitter thanking everyone for their support:

According to CNN's Greg Botelho and Jason Hanna, 27-year-old Joseph Robert Patterson "has been charged with aggravated battery of an infant and aggravated assault." He faces up to 40 years in prison if he is convicted, but with news of the boy's death, prosecutors are reportedly considering filing more charges.

As USA Today's Brent Schrotenboer noted, Patterson has a prior abuse record—he pleaded guilty to simple assault last year and was ordered to attend family-violence training.

Per Sioux Falls police, Patterson had a relationship with the mother of the boy.

Nelson Peterson, Adrian's father, confirmed to Sean Jensen and Joseph Lindbergof the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the boy who died is Adrian's son. He did not give any further details except to say the victim was not Adrian Peterson Jr.

According to police, via Schrotenboer's report, the boy was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday night after Patterson called 911, and it was later revealed that he had suffered unaccidental head injuries.

Patterson appeared in court on Friday morning. Before the boy's death, Patterson's bond was set at $750,000.